Kwanzaa is a non-religious holiday celebrating African-American heritage, pride, community, family, and culture. It is a seven day festival starting today and it culminates on New Year’s Day. It is based on ancient African celebration and has become increasingly popular over the last decade. More than 20 million people celebrate it in the United States, […]
Christmas Eve
Have a blessed Christmas Eve. This nativity scene is a section of an alter piece carved by immigrant Lars Christenson in the years 1897 to 1904. He adapted illustrations from an American-printed Norwegian Bible to his own primitive style.
Looking for Some Last Minute Cookies To Make?
These cookies are easy, different, and taste fabulous! They use Betty Crocker’s Sugar Cookie Mix, which makes them even easier. These “Baklava Bars” won a prize for me in the 2007 “Mix It Up With Betty” cookie contest, and are featured this month on their website in the “24 Days of Cookies” for Christmas baking. I put […]
Santa, by any other name…
Children of many countries believe in Santa Claus, but most refer to him by a different name. Here are some of the most common names for the jolly old elf. Austria: St. Nikkolo Belgium, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland: St. Nicholas Brazil, Peru, and other parts of South America: Papa Noel China: Shen Tan Lao Jen (Christmas […]
Since the Bake-Off Blog From Yesterday…
Good things happen from my Bake-Off blogs that remind me why I write one each week honoring the winner and the contest from each year since 1949. Case in point was yesterday when I received a lovely email from a woman named Phyllis Smith. Phyllis’s mother, Mrs. Claude E. Hughes, won the 2nd Grand National […]
Wednesday Winner: Bake-Off # 32: Apple Nut Lattice Tart (and my first Bake-Off!)
An updated version of apple pie was the grand prize winner in the 32nd Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest in 1986. The third try was a charm for Mary Lou Warren of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her creation was “Apple Nut Lattice Tart,” with a filling of Granny Smith apples, golden raisins, crunchy walnuts, and a touch of […]
Clementine Paddleford: An American Original and First Traveling Food Writer
I first “met” Clementine Paddleford on a snowy and cold day at a college bookstore back in the 1970’s where I was supposed to be buying a biochemistry book. Instead, I was drawn to the cookbook sale area where I found Paddleford’s “The Best of American Cooking,” which still has the sticker on the front […]
